Pressure actuating device



Nov. 22, 1966 STADLER ET AL 3,286,460

PRESSURE ACTUATING DEVICE Filed Sept. 4, 1964 6 Sheets-$heet 1 FIG. I

mvsmoRs. HANS STADLER HEINZ GAWLICK RICHARD GRONEMANN QLQE N Qm ATTORNE NOV. 22, 1966 STADLER ET AL 3,286,460

PRESSURE ACTUATING DEVICE Filed Sept. 4, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

INVENTOR-S HANS STADLER HEINZ GAWLICK EBCHARD GRONEMANN A TTORNEYg? Nov. 22, 1966 STADLER ET AL 3,286,460

PRESSURE ACTUATING DEVICE Filed Sept. 4, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 i II 2\ i II /7 :1 i P l4 i i FIG. 5

Me ia ATTORNE Nov. 22, 1966 H. STADLER ET AL 3,286,460

PRESSURE ACTUATING DEVICE Filed Sept. 4, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 6 11 *5 m 1 V L i l 1 3V 1 k; [i 1;: l 11* ll I I 2\ '1 I, i I L ,i' I in f 1 i I 7 u 5b 1 1| 6 I II II E I "I I l I l INVENTORS.

v HANS STADLER HEINZ GAWLlCK BY RICHARD GRONEMANN QLQQQPQQ ATTORNEY Nov. 22, 1966 H. STADLER ET AL PRESSURE ACTUATING DEVICE Filed Sept. 4, 1964 FIG. 7

6 SheetsSheet 5 I NVENTORS,

HANS STADLER HEINZ GAWLICK RICHARD GRONEMANN Nov. 22, 1966 H. STADLER ET AL 3,

PRESSURE ACTUATING DEVICE Filed Sept. 4, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENT HANS STADLE HEIN AWLICK BY RICH GRONEMANN @iob 7 6 ATTORNE United States Patent 3,286,460 PRESSURE ACTUATING DEVICE Hans Stadler, Numberg, and Richard Gronemann and Heinz Gawlick, Furth, Bavaria, Germany, assignors t0 Dynamit Nobel Aktiengesellschaft, Troisdorf, Germany Filed Sept. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 395,619 20 Claims. (Cl. 60-26.11)

The present invention relates to an installation for the actuation of a piston in a cylinder by the explosive pressure of a propellent charge. The present invention essentially consists in that the propellent charge is installed in the form of several propellent charge containers or cartridges to be fired sequentially.

Shooting devices are known in the prior art for the mechanical deformation of metallic parts in which a piston is actuated by the propellent charge of a propellent charge container or cartridge inserted into a cartridge support or magazine. The piston driven or actuated by the combustion gases is approximately equal in its diameter to the diameter of the cartridge support or 'is larger than the same. With small outputs the powder charges are still of the order of magnitudes of those used in sporting rifle cartridges and do not exceed a charge of about 6 grams. However, with powder quantity the deformation work is only very small and could be realized also with the conventional machines. Larger deformation operations, in contrast thereto, require a multiple of this powder quantity. If one were to ignite at once this larger power quantity according to the known methods, then very high pressure peaks would occur. These high pressure peaks, in'turn, would require very strong chamber walls. Pistons with diameter in excess of 8 cm. would require combustion chambers and closure mechanisms that are otherwise customary only with heavy duty guns or cannons. Gas pressures in excess of 3,000 atmosphere absolute (excess) pressure occur thereby and require correspondingly strong apparatus. Added thereto is the fact that with the deformation of metallic parts, work is to be done over a longer path and the resistance, which the work tool encounters during its operation, remains for longer periods of time. The increase of the combustion space by the moving piston therefore takes place only very slowly; dangerous peak pressures in excess of 3,000 atmosphere absolute excess pressure may occur.

Accordingly, it is proposed in accordance with the present invention to realize the energy liberation in a steplike manner and to impart to the piston continuously new impulses or momentum over its entire stroke or path. This is to take place in accordance with the present invention as follows:

Several propellent charge container or cartridges are used for the drive of the piston whose caliber is very much smaller than the piston diameter. The propellent charge containers or cartridges are arranged either parallel to the axis of the piston at the bottom of the apparatus or at an angle thereto, for example, laterally at an angle, particularly at a right angle. The ignition of the individual cartridges takes place in certain timed intervals which are determined by the forward movement of the piston. The timed sequence of the ignition can take place in accordance with the present invention by the movement of the piston which a-ctuates electric contacts after passing through a predetermined portion of its path or stroke, which causes the sequential ignition of the cartridges. On the other hand, an automatically operable electric ignition system may also be provided by means of which the ignition periods may be selectively adjusted in any desired conventional manner between the individual propellent charge containers or cartridges.

As a result thereof, it is possible to match the energy supply to the increase of the combustion space and to maintain the gas pressure as constant as possible during the operation as well as to avoid the undesired peak pressures. In order to maintain the gas pressure essentially constant also with increasing expansion volumes, the number of simultaneously ignited cartridges may be increased from ignition to ignition, for example, during the first ignition only one cartridge, during the second ignition two cartridges, during the third ignition three cartridges, etc. However, it is understood that a distribution of the cartridge ignition deviating therefrom, i.e., using different numbers of cartridges, is also within the scope of the present invention and depends only on the form of the expansion volume.

However, with the ignition of several cartridges in sequential timed intervals, care must be taken that the gas pressure of the already ignited cartridge does not damage or prematurely ignite the as yet unignited cartridges. This may be prevented in accordance with the present invention by several means:

The ignition of the successive cartridges takes place in each case in a relatively small, separate combustion space which is separated initially from the expansion space by the piston itself. This separation may also be realized by a valve which opens up in the direction toward the expansion space only, when a predetermined pressure is reached in the cartridge space or chambers. The pressure in the cartridge chamber, however, has to be always higher than in the expansion space so that gas is continuously liberated at the rate of the pressure decrease in the expansion space.

Another possiblity in accordance with the present invention consists in controlling the opening of the cartridge chambers containing propellent charge containers or cartridges to be ignited later on by the movement of the piston itself.

Additionally, a premature ignition of the individual cartridges may also be prevented in accordance with the present invention by a corresponding form and shape of the piston, for example, by a step-shaped off-set piston.

. With a step-shaped off-set piston there may be achieved by an arrangement of the cartridges at the piston bottom and laterally at the individual steps that the piston is initially set into motion only by the cartridges at the bottom and that approximately the same volume is available in each case for the combustion gases of the cartridges to be sequentially ignited later on.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus actuated by powder gases which avoid by extremely simple and operationally reliable means the aforementioned drawbacks encountered with the prior art constructions.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for deformation operations which is actuated by powder charges yet is capable of relatively large deformation work.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a deforming tool for deforming metallic parts and the like which is driven by the powder gases of explosive charges yet avoids extremely high peak pressures.

metallic parts in which the deformation work can be carried out over longer paths and with the resistance encountered by the apparatus during its operation remaining present for longer periods of time.

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a deforming tool driven by the powder gases of a propellent charge in which dangerous pressures are avoided and in which the energy liberation is realized gradually, thereby maintaining essentially constant the gas pressure during the entire operation.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a tool adapted to be driven by the gases of propellent charge in which, for purposes of avoiding peak pressures and maintaining substantially constant the gas pressure, the propellent charges are ignited sequentially and appropriate means are provided to protect the as yet non-ignited propellent charge against damage and premature ignition.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which shows, [for purposes of illustration only, several embodiments in accordance with the present invention, and wherein FIGURE 1 is a partial cross sectional view through a first embodiment of a press in accordance with the present invention actuated by powder gas pressure;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view on the insert with cartridge support or magazine for a press according to FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a partial axial cross sectional view through a modified embodiment of a powder-gas actuated press in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view on the press of FIGURE 3, taken in the direction of arrow IV,

FIGURE 5 is a partial axial cross sectional view through a still further modified embodiment of a press in accordance with the present invention provided with a separate insert for the cartridge support or magazine,

FIGURE 6 is a partial axial cross sectional view through another modified embodiment of a press in accordance with the present invention, also provided with a separate insert for the cartridge support or magazine,

FIGURE 7 is a partial axial cross sectional view through still another modified embodiment of a press in accordance with the present invention provided with closure caps for the cartridge space, and

FIGURE 8 is a partial axial cross sectional view through a press in accordance with the present invention provided with a piston off-set in a step-shaped manner.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals are used throughout the various views to designate like parts, reference numeral 1 designates the cartridge support or magazine within which are arranged in the embodiment of FIGURE 1, circularly about the center axis thereof, cartridge spaces extending parallel to the axis for the accommodation of propellent charge containers or cartridges 2 of similar, complementary shape. The embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2 illustrates six such cartridge spaces 2.

However, the cartridge spaces may also be disposed radially whereby each propellent charge container or cartridge 2 possesses its own cartridge support or magazine. Examples for suc'h an arrangement are illustrated in FIGURES 3, 4, and 8.

The cartridge support or magazine 1 is inserted into the lower part of a cylinder 3 which receives the piston 4. The cylinder 3 is threaded by means of an appropriate thread into a closure head 6, however, it may also be connected therewith in one piece, e.g., formed integrally therewith. The ignition of the propellent charges or cartridges is to take place electrically For that purpose, the connecting lines 5a are connected to the positive pole of a conventional current source whereas the negative pole 5b of the current source is directly connected with the closure head 6.

In order that the pressure of the combustion gases acts already directly after ignition of the cartridges on a larger piston surface, recesses or apertures are provided either, as shown for example in FIGURE 1, at the end surfaces of the cartridge supports or magazines extending parallel to the axis of the piston or, as shown in FIGURE 3, in front of the orifices of the radial cartridge supports or magazines; however, the apertures 7 may also be arranged cylindrically about the cartridges as shown, for example, in FIGURE 5.

In FIGURES 5 and 6, reference numeral 8 designates a contact bridge of conventional construction for the ignition of the cartridges in predetermined timed intervals whereas the contact maker 9 is controlled mechanically or electrically as shown in FIGURE 5 with the ignition time sequence of the individual cartridges adjustable by any appropriate means, or is arranged at the piston as shown in FIGURE 6 and is therewith controlled by the movement of piston 4 itself.

It is also possible within the scope of the present invention that the cartridges 2 are not accommodated directly in the cartridge support or magazine 1. In that case, cartridge support or magazine inserts 10 are provided with lateral bores or apertures 11 as illustrated in FIGURE 5. Additionally, the possibility exists that the cartridge support 1 of the cylinders 3 and the closure head 6 are made in one piece, as illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 8. In that case, the closure screws 12 serve for the sealing of the inserted cartridges.

If one intends not to ignite the cartridges at once, but sequentially in series, then the cartridge supports or magazines of the cartridges provided for later ignition may be closed ofi \by valves. The valves open under the gas pressure in the direction toward the expansion space. FIGURE 7 illustrates a valve 13 shown in full lines in the closed condition thereof and in dash lines in the open condition thereof. After a substantially complete burning of the first ignition series, the piston 4 is in the position a and the valve 13 is closed, whereas after ignition of the second series, the piston has reached its position b and the valve 13 is now opened as indicated by the position 13' thereof.

These valves 13 can be omitted if the apertures or orifices of the cartridge magazines or supports 2 into the expansion space are opened up by the piston movement itself as illustrated in connection with the embodiment of FIGURE 8. In this embodiment, the cartridge 2a burns completely during the first ignition series and propel the piston to the position a thereof. The apertures for the second ignition series containing the cartridges 2b are thereby opened up which are thus able, upon ignition thereof, to continue propulsion of the piston into the position b thereof. The apertures of the cartridge supports 20 for the third ignition series with the cartridges 2c are opened up in the position b. A uniform effect during each ignition series is obtained if the size of the expansion spaces of the individual steps are at a predetermined ratio to each other, in particular, if they are equal.

The arrow B indicates in FIGURES 1, 3, and 5 to 8 the direction of movement of the piston 4.

While we have shown and described several embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it is understood that the same is not limited thereto but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications as known to a person skilled in the art, and we therefore do not wish to be limited to the details shown and described herein but intend to cover all such changes and modifications as are encompassed by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An installation for the actuation of a piston in a cylinder by the gas pressure of a propellent charge, comprising:

cylinder means, piston means slidable within said cylinder means, and propellent charge means for driving said piston means, said propellent charge means being constituted by a plurality of cartridges to be ignited sequentially,

and means for effectively separating a cartridge to be ignited at a later time with respect to a preceding cartridge ignited earlier, said last mentioned means being effectively constituted by the movements of the piston means controlling the opening of the apertures between respective cartridge spaces and the expansion space, with the diameter of the piston means being ofi-set'in a step-like manner in such a manner that the sizes of the expansion spaces of the individual steps produced by the sequential opening of the cartridge spaces are at a predetermined ratio to one another.

2. An installation according to claim 1, wherein said ratio is substantially constant.

3. An installation for the actuation of a piston in a cylinder by the gas pressure of a propellant charge, comprising:

cylinder means, piston means slidable within said cylinder means, and propellant charge means for driving said piston means, said propellent charge means being constituted by a plurality of cartridges to be ignited sequentially,

the number of cartridges ignited being matched to the increasing volume of the expansion space freed by the piston means in such a manner that the gas pressure remains essentially constant during the entire operation,

and means for effectively separating a cartridge to be ignited at a later time with respect to a preceding cartridge ignited earlier, said last mentioned means being effectively constituted by the movements of the piston means controlling the opening of the apertures between respective cartridge spaces and the expansion space, with the diameter of the piston means being oiT-set in a step-like manner in such a manner that the sizes of the expansion spaces of the individual steps produced by the sequential opening of the cartridge spaces are at a predetermined rat-i0 to one another,

and electrical ignition control means for controlling the time interval between the ignitions of the individual cartridges including means controlled by the movement of the piston means itself, and means for adjusting the ignition timing of the individual cartridges.

4. An installation for the actuation of a piston in a cylinder by the gas pressure of a propellent charge, comprising:

cylinder means, piston means slidable within said cylinder means, and propellent charge means for driving said piston means, said propellent charge means being constituted by a plurality of cartridges to be ignited sequentially,

and means for effectively separating a cartridge to be ignited at a later time with respect to a preceding cartridge ignited earlier, said last mentioned means being effectively constituted by the movements of the piston means controlling the opening of the apertures between respective cartridge spaces and the expansion space, with the diameter of the piston means being off-set in a step-like manner in such a manner that the sizes of the expansion spaces of the individual steps produced by the sequential opening of the cartridge spaces are at a predetermined ratio to one another,

and electrical ignition control means for controlling the time interval between the ignitions of the individual cartridges, and means for adjusting the ignition timing of the individual cartridges.

5. A power operator, comprising a pressure cylinder; a breech head closing one end of said cylinder; a piston means forming a plurality of expansion chambers in cooperation with said cylinder and breech head; a plurality of propellant cartridge chamber means opening into said expansion chambers for the reception of propellant cartridges, with firing components; means for firing the propellant cartridges, in a predetermined order so that the gas pressure in said expansion chambers will remain substantially constant during the firing stroke of said piston means; said piston means having an axially extending substantially concentric recess forming one of said expansion chambers; and said cartridge chamber means being symmetrically arranged.

6. The power operator of claim 5, including means for effectively separating a cartridge to be ignited at a later time from a cartridge to be ignited at an earlier time, so that the explosive propellant gases of the earlier fired cartridge will not communicate with the propellant cartridge chamber means of the cartridge to be fired at a later time.

7. The power operator according to claim 6, wherein said last mentioned means includes a one-way valve.

8. The power operator according to claim 6, wherein said last mentioned means includes cooperating sealing portions of said piston means and said cylinder that will effectively valve the openings leading to the propellant cartridge chamber means of the later fired propellant cartridges.

9. The power operator according to claim 5, wherein said means for firing the propellant cartridges is controlled by the relative movement between said piston means and said cylinder.

10. The power operator according to claim 5, wherein said means for firing the propellant cartridges is adjustable to vary the timing between the firing of the individual cartridges.

11. The power operator according to claim 5, wherein all of said cartridge chamber means extend axially with respect to said piston means.

12. The power operator according to claim 5, wherein all of said propellant cartridge chamber means extend radially with respect to said piston means.

13. The power operator according to claim 5, wherein each of said piston means and said cylinder have a corresponding first portion of relatively large diameter, a second portion of intermediate diameter, and a shoulder portion connecting said first and second portions to form two concentric axially spaced expansion chambers; said second portions having sealing surfaces efiectively preventing communication between said two concentric expansion chambers.

14. The power operator according to claim 13, wherein each of said piston means and said cylinder have a corresponding third portion of relatively small diameter, and a second shoulder portion connecting said second and third portions to effectively form a third concentric axially spaced expansion chamber; and said third portions having sealing surfaces efiective to prevent communication between said third expansion chamber and said first mentioned two concentric expansion chambers.

15. The power operator according to claim 14, wherein a first plurality of said cartridge chamber means extend radially through said first portion of said relatively large diameter in said cylinder; and said propellant cartridge chamber means including an additional plurality of cartridge chambers extending radially through said second portion of intermediate diameter in said cylinder.

16. The power operator according to claim 15, wherein said propellant cartridge chamber means includes an additional propellant cartridge chamber extending axially through said breech head in axial alignment with said piston means.

17. The power operator according to claim 15, wherein said propellant cartridge chambers include means for electrically igniting the propellant cartridges contained therein.

18. The power operator according to claim 16, wherein said cylinder and said breech head are formed integrally and homogeneously together.

19. The power operator according to claim 18, wherein 2,485,601 10/ 1949 Hickman 24463 each of said propellant cartridge chambers is closed at its 2,527,020 10/ 1950 Martin 244-422 outer end by a plug threaded into the corresponding cylin- 3,027,125 3/ 1962 Fulton 244122 der or breech head. 3,104,521 9/1963 Sawyer et al. 6026.1l

20. The power operator according to claim 19, wherein 5 3,196,745 7/1965 Sustrich et al. 89l each of said propellant cartridge chambers includes means for electrically igniting the propellant cartridge contained OTHER REFERENCES therein. Aviation Week Magazine, November 12, 1956, volume 65, No.20, pages 71, 72, 74 and 77. References Cited by the Exammer 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS MARK NEWMAN, Primary Examiner.

484,007 10/ 1892 Haskell 89-8 WENDELL E. BURNS, Examiner. 2,360,217 l0/1944 Francis 898 X 

5. A POWER OPERATOR, COMPRISING A PRESSURE CYLINDER; A BREECH HEAD CLOSING ONE END OF SAID CYLINDER; A PISTON MEANS FORMING A PLURALITY OF EXPANSION CHAMBERS IN COOPERATION WITH SAID CYLINDER AND BREECH HEAD; A PLURALITY OF PROPELLANT CARTRIDGE CHAMBER MEANS OPENING INTO SAID EXPANSION CHAMBERS FOR THE RECEPTION OF PROPELLANT CARTRIDGES, WITH FIRING COMPONENTS; MEANS FOR FIRING THE PROPELLANT CARTRIDGES, IN A PREDETERMINED ORDER SO THAT THE GAS PRESSURE IN SAID EXPANSION CHAMBERS WILL REMAIN SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT DURING THE FIRING STROKE OF SAID PISTON MEANS; SAID PISTON MEANS HAVING AN AXIALLY EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY CONCENTRIC RECESS FORMING ONE OF SAID EXPANSION CHAMBERS; AND SAID CARTRIDGE CHAMBER MEANS BEING SYMMETRICALLY ARRANGED. 